The temperamental Italian told Lambert to “shut up” after their touchline spat provided a fascinating sideshow to the main event of Villa’s thrilling 4-2 victory over Manchester City.

But it was Lambert and the claret and blues who had the final word as an own goal from Villa old boy Gareth Barry set them on their way to a famous Capital One Cup third round victory.

Gabby Agbonlahor bagged a brace and Charles N’Zogbia was also on target late on as Villa twice came from behind in normal time before completing a pulsating extra-time success.

It was a trend-bucking triumph given that City had won six of the previous eight fixtures between the clubs and their star-studded second string led through Mario Balotelli and Aleksandar Kolarov.

And it was a far cry from the humiliating 3-0 defeat Villa suffered during their last cup tie there when Gerard Houllier forfeited an FA Cup quarter final place by fielding a weakened side.

Last night with Mancini and Lambert trading insults in Italian and Glaswegian in their technical areas, the teams took it in turns to warm up the drenched crowd during an eventful end-to-end encounter.

Villa’s 1,000-plus away following left the ground dripping with excitement after seeing a side so half-soaked at Southampton recover to rain in goals against the Premier League champions.

Lambert’s Lions, with six changes from their St Mary’s shocker, quickly forgot about Saturday’s setback as they boldly took the game to a City team with 10 fresh faces from their draw with Arsenal.

Shay Given replaced Brad Guzan in goal, but with another ex-City favourite Stephen Ireland sidelined with a broken wrist, Fabian Delph came in from the cold for a start in central midfield.

There was also a full debut for Joe Bennett at left-back in place of Eric Lichaj, while Lambert reshuffled his attack with three changes from the now forgotten 4-1 defeat against the Saints.

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Agbonlahor replaced Darren Bent to devastating effect, N’Zogbia justified his recall at the expense of Brett Holman and Andi Weimann took the place vacated by fellow academy graduate Barry Bannan.

Villa burst out of the blocks and, but for better finishing, might have opened the scoring early on with Weimann, Agbonlahor and N’Zogbia all pressing high up the pitch to support Christian Benteke.

Weimann threatened first with a deflected effort wide and then Agbonlahor had City keeper Costel Pantilimon at full stretch with a skidding shot with Benteke just failing to convert the rebound.

Agbonlahor snatched at another good chance with their lethargic hosts still struggling to get going following the wholesale changes and Benteke blazed a loose ball high over the crossbar.

But it was City’s rich reserves who took the lead, somewhat against the run of play, on 27 minutes when Balotelli was left unmarked six yards out to convert from James Milner’s slick pass.

The Italian striker should be known as ‘Bogey-telli’ rather than Balotelli after his sixth goal in just four games against Villa, who were again guilty of allowing him too much time and space.

However, it was a familiar Villan who turned hero for the claret and blues when former captain and stalwart Barry inadvertently drew them level on 59 minutes with an embarrassing own goal.

When Karim El Ahmadi brilliantly won the ball and Weimann drilled in a low cross from the right, the ball hit Barry and bounced into his own net much to the delight of the Villa fans behind the goal.

“One Gareth Barry” and “Barry is a Villa fan” were the chants the travelling faithful reprised to mock the England midfielder who has still not been forgiven by many for calling time on his career at the club.

But their joy was short-lived when current skipper Ron Vlaar was booked for a foul on Balotelli and Kolarov spanked a 20-yard left-foot free-kick screamer past Given on 64 minutes from right of centre.

Still the topsy turvy tie crackled at a frenetic pace with Villa showing no signs of the crisis of confidence which caused them to crumble so alarmingly at bottom of the table Southampton three days earlier.

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On 74 minutes, impressive approach play from Benteke created a chance for Agbonlahor who, with a crisp low strike, drilled his first goal since his January FA Cup strike at Bristol Rovers past Pantilimon.

With full-bloodied tackles flying in from both teams on the saturated pitch, Lambert and Mancini joined in the feistiness with a touchy touchline bust-up which rumbled on for five minutes or more.

It was a clash between Bennett and Barry that proved to be the catalyst for their row with Mancini angrily claiming Lambert butted into a private conversation between him and the fourth official.

Meanwhile, on the pitch chances continued to come and go for Villa with N’Zogbia’s cross-shot stinging the keeper’s hands and Chris Herd scuffing wide when he should have played in better-placed Benteke.

At the other end Given made a full stretch save to tip over Balotelli’s header before Carlos Tevez’s cracking free-kick following a foul from hard-working substitute Marc Albrighton clipped the crossbar.

Throughout the game the visitors survived several half-hearted penalty appeals and near misses from the hosts, but in stark contrast to their sins against the Saints put their bodies on the line for the cause.

With the Manchester rain continuing to lash down, and the warring bosses continuing to lash out, N’Zogbia decided to settle the important business on the pitch by giving Villa the extra-time edge.

Agbonlahor, who is determined to get back to his lung-busting best, burst clear and when his shot was parried by Pantilimon, N’Zogbia calmly rolled in the rebound to give Villa the lead for the first time on 96 minutes.

The Brummie striker capped a brilliant individual display by making it four after running at the City defence, beating two players and hitting a firm shot which deflected in off a defender on 113 minutes.

‘Bring on Albion’ was the cry from the claret and blue faithful as they skipped away from the Etihad, but in a rollercoaster start to the season it was with cautious optimism rather than pre-derby cockiness.